Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-10-12
ggess and 9aaotaisa
NORTH DAKOTA ADDRESS.

Fargo Division Convention Ap-
pesls TO the Voters of the North
Half OF Dakota
At the division convention for the
north halt of Dakota. held at Fargo, the
following address was promulgated:
To the Voters of North Dakota:
Pursuant to law an eleotiun is to be
held on the coming eighth of November !
to take the sense of the LeoIle OF Da-
kOta as to g division OF the territory
"upon an east and west line upon the
seventh standard parallel" The ballots
to be cast must have either written or
printed thereon, "For Division" or
Against Divieion." Returns of the
vote are to be made as at general cleo
ton and the result in the territory at
lsrge is to be communicated by the
governor to the president and congress
OF the United States.
We are thus confronted with an issue
in which every Citizen OF Dakota has a
deep interest-not only for himself
alone, bnt for ali who shall come after
him. Shall this vast section OF the
northwest embracing an area Of 100 600
square miles, become and remain forever
odo pshbC ~ LILO uHAOh, Will Ouly bWO
votes in the United States senate? Or,
ehall II be divided into two territories,
and be ultimately admitted as two states,
with four votes at it's command for the
protection of northwestern interests?
voter il asked to express his
opinion at the ballot box. II the
people of Dakota are themselves will.
ing to abdicate their rights, and to &C.
cept TWO senators as against twenty-five
from an equal r IN the east, (embra-
ding all New England, New York, Dele
ware, Maryland and Yirginia), the re-.
| spoDsibility for such ~disgrsceful sarren-
der will be all aheir own. But il they
are unwilling to go into the union. thus
shorn Of their rightful power, they have
bat to speak in the thunder toae of their
bali million of voices to be heard and
needed at the capital OF the nation.
But vitality important and far reaching
as ia the question of additional senators
whose vote may seal the fate of policies
affecting the northwest, there are many
other considerations, scarcely less potent
which render division a necessity. We
are all interested in securing an intelli-
gent, honest and economical admins
~tration of public affairs; but there is
good reason to doubt whether such q
government is possible. in SO large q ter
rItory, under our republican forms. In
Dakota the people practically, have no
voice Ia territorial conventions; the
distances are so great that large sections
are not represented by delegates in
person, but proxies, furnished to
order, enable sharp managers to
oontrol nominations. Legislators
also, are so far removed from the people
as to weaken the sense of responsibility
while sectional j%ealousies make q beer.
garden of the halls OF legislation, of
which advantage is token by lobbyists
to defent promised reforms, and secure
~unrighteoua laws. The history OF DA-
kosa legislation is 8 record Of sectional
intrigues, crude laws, shameful profit
gacy and defiance VI the popular will.
The obvious remedy is to reduce the
areR by division; cut off the sectional
feuds; bring the government nearer to
the people; and stop the log rolling OF
twin SETS OF public institutions to reach
the very bottom Of the treasury, Be-
sides, official records disclose the fact that
very large ste ses e1e more expensive to
govern than smaller ones, the rule being
the smaller the state the lower the tax,
which, may be accepted as proof that
Dakota, divided into two states, will be
more cheaply governed than ss one.
In addition to these considerations,
which affecs both sections equally, there
are others which may well induce the
people OF North Dakota TO give q solid
vote for division. The territorial capital
is now located north OF the proposed
line Of separation, while the
voting power OF the territory
by an overwhelming majority,
is found south OF that line. The
south 10 largely for division, and II the
north should falter OIL the present issue
can she expect to retain the capital
There ia food TOR thought in this inquiry,
and in the further suggestion that, as
one state, the south will continue &c
hold the balance Of power, and by COM
binations with central Dakota will be
practically able to disregard the interests
and wishes Of the north, in the legisla-
ture, and In conventions, and to shut
her out from equal participation ir
honors and benefits. In this connection
it is nnwlHe to lose sight of the fact thai
the territory is practically divided now
in its sympathies. as we'll as in its ma
terlal interests; thnI southern industries
tr,as towards tha twin Git;aa and the
great lake: that each aect,on has Il,
s~s,,erate nnbI,n inatitntions thar al, the
~yeyions reli0ions ordars draw = divid;no
line on The seventh naraIials
and that the a-ntaoon,srns ~ tha tuc
sections cron ont whanaver thay maaI
in renresantatiya assemhlaa Fam III
which il ia clear that the weaLast sill
inev;teblv he driven To the wall ~ fop"ad